Woods not happy after opening 73

Tiger Woods was a much more gracious host than he had planned to be at the inaugural AT&T; National at Bethesda, Md.

By the time his round at Congressional was over Thursday, he had missed a two-foot tap-in, hit a man in the face with a drive and tossed his putter in frustration at his bag several times.

His scorecard included seven bogeys in a three-over round of 73, tied for 77th place and seven shots behind five co-leaders: Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, K.J. Choi, Joe Ogilvie and Stuart Appleby.

Woods putted 34 times, including three three-putts, and he missed every attempt longer than eight feet.

“It’s one of the worst putting rounds I have had in years,” Woods said. “I’m going to have to figure out something for [today] because evidently what I’m doing is not even close to being right. I’ve got to fix it. I’ve got to get back in this tournament.”

Meanwhile, 28 players were under par on a 7,204-yard, par-70 course that was expected to be a tough test with its high rough and long par fours.

Phil Mickelson, who was cleared to play by a doctor despite his injured left wrist, shot a four-over 74 and is tied for 93rd.

“I expect it to be OK,” Mickelson said. “I was told that it may hurt, but I won’t be doing any more damage. So I’ve been going after it pretty good, and it does hurt, but as long as I am not doing any more damage I’m OK.”

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Eduardo Romero shot a six-under 66 to take the lead during the rain-delayed first round of the U.S. Senior Open at Haven, Wis.

Romero’s score tied for the fourth-best opening round in tournament history, and it represented the latest step in a banner summer for Argentine golfers. It came less than a month after Romero’s countryman and friend Angel Cabrera became the first player from Argentina to win the U.S. Open.

Romero held a three-shot lead over another Argentine, Vicente Fernandez, and two club professionals, Jon Fiedler of Camarillo and Ron Vlosich of Lakewood, Colo.

Gil Morgan, Loren Roberts, Bruce Vaughan and Jim Woodward were on the course at three under when play was halted because of threatening weather.

The 78 players who were unable to finish the round will resume play this morning.